Posted Nov 6th 2009 11:07PM by Isabelle Carreau
Filed under: Other Sci-Fi/Supernatural Shows, OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S05E07) "The answers are there, but you have to know when to look." - Carl the Watcher
Starting this week,
TV Squad now offers regular reviews of CBS'
Ghost Whisperer. What an episode to start reviews with! The first episode of November Sweeps offered us more backstory and mythology about the shadows, some of their powers, the book ... and Jennifer Love Hewitt in lingerie doing some pole dancing!
We were also treated to a case of the week that kept us guessing as to who was to blame for the death of now-ghost Tina and what secret Dr. Morgan and President Bedford were hiding.
Continue reading Review: Ghost Whisperer - Devil's Bargain
Posted Nov 6th 2009 3:02PM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Jay Leno
Good news, everyone!
The Jay Leno Show was funny this week. There were some funny guests, genuinely funny comedy correspondent moments, and another
Real Housewives quiz show, this time with the ladies from Atlanta.
Jay even managed to get a quick jab in to the bosses at NBC during an archery "Earn Your Plug" with Wanda Sykes. "This is NBC," he said to her. "I'm used to getting shot in the back." I've grown to respect Leno during his 10 o'clock experiment. He's a trouper doing what NBC is paying him to do, but you can tell he thinks the whole situation's about as screwed up as we do.
Even better, there were only two "10 @ 10" segments and no "Green Car Challenge" races, which allowed for more room to bring on Frank Calliendo and Sebastian Maniscalco to do stand-up routines. This is what I was expecting Leno to be doing, showcasing comedy rather than driving around a track trying not to hit Al Gore.
Continue reading Leno Weekly: Paranormal Activity, 2012, Rachael Ray and more!
Posted Nov 6th 2009 2:08PM by Jane Boursaw
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Vampire Diaries
(S01E08) "It's not every day a guy turns 162 years old." - Lexi to Stefan on his birthday
What?! Nooooo! They keep bringing in these great characters and then killing them off! Hopefully, they're just stashing the bodies somewhere for a mass resurrection at some point. And, by the way, I totally did not see that coming.
The Vampire Diaries started out great and continues to get better each week. It's so beautifully dark and gloomy. I love the Salvatore's gothic digs, and Stefan is showing considerable restraint at not offing his bad, bad brother Damon.
Continue reading Review: The Vampire Diaries - 162 Candles
Posted Nov 6th 2009 1:31PM by Annie Wu
Filed under: OpEd, It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S05E08) Yes! Finally. The moment we've all been waiting for. Ever since the season five promos first aired, I have been eagerly anticipating some sort of context for Charlie's uncontrollable eyebrows and the ridiculous Kitten Mittens (or Kitten Mittons, as it were). Seeing the ad in full certainly didn't disappoint, though I wish we could have seen more Kitten Mittons throughout the episode. Admittedly, thirty-some minutes of cats struggling in booties probably doesn't sound like a hot idea, but, hey, animal humor has sustained many a clip show.
Plus, I heart over-enthusiastic Charlie.
Continue reading Review: It's Always Sunny In Philadelphia - Paddy's Pub: Home of the Original Kitten Mittens
Posted Nov 6th 2009 12:38PM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: OpEd, Daytime, Celebrities, Casting, Reality-Free
There's some good news and some bad about
The Golden Girls. First the good:
Betty White will be returning to The Bold and the Beautiful to resume her recurring role as Stephanie's mother, Ann Douglas. She'll be appearing on a few episodes of
B&B, but it could be extended even longer depending on storyline developments.
Sadly, the bad news is that Betty's
Golden Girls costar,
Rue McClanahan had to cancel a Castro Theater event in San Francisco on November 14 -- a salute in her honor called "Golden: A Gala Tribute to
Rue McClanahan" -- because she's had to undergo heart bypass surgery in New York.
Continue reading Golden Girls update: Betty White and Rue McClanahan make news
Posted Nov 6th 2009 11:04AM by Brad Trechak
Filed under: TV on the Bigscreen, OpEd, Reality-Free
I could make another joke about how Hollywood is out of ideas, but why bother? However, as further proof of the concept, a live-action/CGI
Yogi Bear movie is in the works based on the Hanna-Barbera cartoon from way back when. Dan Aykroyd will be lending his voice for Yogi and Justin Timberlake will be the voice of Boo Boo. Did anyone else just feel a cold shiver down their spine?
Anna Faris will also be in the movie as a documentary filmmaker. I like Anna Faris even when she's in crap movies, but I don't think her presence is going to make me like this one.
I'm sorry to say that this movie will likely do well and the kids will eat up. Look at Hollywood's history of similar movies (most of which have actually spawned sequels):
The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle,
Garfield,
Alvin and the Chipmunks,
Scooby Doo ... the list goes on.
So what do you think of this idea?
Posted Nov 6th 2009 10:05AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Industry, Programming, OpEd, Reality-Free, The Mentalist
Did the USA Network decide not to buy the
Simon Baker series The Mentalist for syndication because it would conflict with their own psychic detective show
Psych?
You have to wonder, because
The Mentalist has been snatched up by TNT in a lush syndication deal. How lush? About $2 million per episode, a broadcast series record. (The overall record is HBO's
The Sopranos going to A&E for $2.5 per episode.)
Continue reading TNT snags The Mentalist ... in syndication
Posted Nov 6th 2009 9:29AM by Allison Waldman
Filed under: Industry, OpEd, Celebrities, Talk Show, Reality-Free
Yesterday
there was a story on Deadline Hollywood that
Oprah Winfrey would be ending her syndicated talk show in 2011 in order to move over to her OWN cable network. She'd still have a talk show, one based on Los Angeles, but it would not be syndicated. It would be on the Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN), formerly Discovery Health.
Well, after the news was reported all over the place, Oprah's company Harpo, Inc. issued a statement that there would be no announcement until the end of the year. They didn't deny it; they just said the announcement about the switch would be later in the year.
To the average fan, if Oprah stopped her syndicated show, it probably wouldn't matter too much. Most people have basic cable and OWN would probably be a major addition to most cable systems, as well as DirecTV and Dish. Longtime fans would be able to watch Oprah on cable or satellite. No biggie.
Continue reading Is Oprah ending her syndicated show for her OWN show?
Posted Nov 6th 2009 3:00AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, FlashForward
(S01E07) You know, even without Dominic Monaghan appearing (save for one scene), this episode really captured my attention. There was some further development in the blue hand case, but for the most part it was about the people of the cast and how they're dealing with their lives at this point between the blackouts and the time of their visions.
Since the beginning, I've been waiting to find some confirmation as to whether these were inevitable futures, or just possible futures. And every week, I got more and more proof that it just seems like they're racing toward these inevitable destinies. Even the contradicting visions, like Zoey's vision of her wedding with Demetri, and his lack-of-vision left room for interpretation: she was a bit away from him on that beach.
But really, this episode was about Al Gough. We finally got to see the rest of his vision, and it's a doozy. Plus, Fiona showed up in the Los Angeles office, where she and Al meet again ... for the first time.
Continue reading Review: FlashForward - The Gift
Posted Nov 6th 2009 2:40AM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, The Mentalist
(S02E06) "No takebacks!" - Jane, to the killer, about her confession
So this episode had two things that scare the hell out of me: prison and mice. I think we all view prison as a place that would freak us out if we ever found ourselves in one. I hate the very thought of being in that situation. I think I'd try to escape like Jane did tonight. What's the worst that could happen, they'd send you to prison?
As for mice, I have a few every winter in my apartment. They come in through the wall behind the fridge looking for warmth and food. Really irritating and gross.
And this episode had
both of those things. Gah.
Continue reading Review: The Mentalist - Black Gold and Red Blood
Posted Nov 6th 2009 1:40AM by Michael Pascua
Filed under: OpEd, Project Runway, Episode Reviews
(
S06E12) It's the trend for most contestants on
Project Runway to cave during the final challenge; this season was no exception. This season's final challenge was to be inspired by the Getty museum. The contestants had two days and $300 to design the dress.
Inspiration:
Althea - Overall Architecture
Christopher - Rock Fountain
Irina - Mischief and Repose by Godward.
Gordana - Rouen Cathedral by Monet
Carol Hannah - Bed - French, Paris (circa 1775 - 1780)
There was so much to be inspired by in the Getty Center, and I feel like the show rushed its way through.
Continue reading Review: Project Runway - The Art of Design
Posted Nov 6th 2009 1:28AM by Jason Hughes
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Community
(S01E08) Well, that ending was disappointing, wasn't it? Spoiler alert: the gag over the closing credits did not feature Abed and Troy. What were they thinking? Those were some of the funniest moments of the first seven episodes!
It was about time we saw the financial repercussions of Jeff having lost his license to practice law. There's a lifestyle that comes with being a big-shot lawyer, and it's not at all the same lifestyle of your typical college student. That's Abed's life, and we got to see that, as well.
Meanwhile, Annie tries and tries and tries to muster up the courage to talk to Troy about her feelings. The problem is, I think she's expecting him to put two and two together as long as she drops enough hints. But it doesn't look like math is one of Troy's strong suits. Or thinking, for that matter.
Continue reading Review: Community - Home Economics
Posted Nov 6th 2009 1:00AM by Jackie Schnoop
Filed under: OpEd, Survivor, Episode Reviews
(S19E08) I know this photo might be considered sort of spoilerish for the front page. But since last week's
Survivor promo showed the merge going down, I know you all know Evil Russell will attempt to work everyone. Heck, that's what the guy does. To me, he comes off akin to a snake oil salesman. Yet he seems to get people to believe his wily ways. I bet he could have sold a lot of snake oil a century back.
Continue reading Review: Survivor Samoa - All Hell Breaks Loose
Posted Nov 6th 2009 12:30AM by Bob Sassone
Filed under: OpEd, 30 Rock, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free
(S04E04) "That's what I'm talking about, empathy. It's about as useless as the Winter Olympics. This February on NBC." - Jack
Could this be the end of the "new
TGS cast member" storyline on
30 Rock this season? Will the robot guy work out well or will he turn out to be a nightmare and Liz will have to find a replacement for him? I'm curious to see if this ends the storyline and they just use robot guy as a visual joke for the rest of the season, the cast member who is always in metallic makeup and never says a word. Or maybe he'll turn out to be someone brilliant and that will mean more jealousy and paranoia for Jenna and/or Tracy. I guess we'll have to wait and see where they go with it.
Continue reading Review: 30 Rock - Audition Day
Posted Nov 5th 2009 11:20PM by Jane Boursaw
Filed under: OpEd, Episode Reviews, Reality-Free, Fringe
(S02E06) "Why is this case so important to you?" - Olivia to Agent Broyles
I said in
my preview earlier today that I hoped this episode of
Fringe wouldn't be a stand-alone creature feature. Unfortunately, that's exactly what it was. No William Bell. No Nina Sharp. No Pattern. No alternate universe. And no Observer. At least, not front and center. Did anyone see him?
Instead, we got a little diversion into the life of Phillip Broyles; how he got so involved in a case four years ago that it cost him his marriage and family. I feel for the guy, but I'm not that interested in his life. As for the Shadow, was this an
X-Files knock-off? You can tell me in the comments after the jump.
Continue reading Review: Fringe - Earthling
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